Hydraulic turbine



Patented Nov. 27, 1923.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I RALPH S. HYATT, OF VALENTINE, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR OE ONE-HALF TO CHARLES H. CORNELL, OF VALENTINE, NEBRASKA.

HYDRAULIC TURBINE.

Application filed May 9,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH S. HYA'I'I, a citizen of the United 'States, residing at Valentine, in the county of Cherry and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydraulic Turbines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for preventing the formation and adherence of ice to the metal parts of a device subjected to such formation and adherence and more especially to the metal parts of a device operating under water, such, for example, as

a hydraulic turbine.

A common drawback in the operation of water'power plants is the existence at occasional intervals of fragile or needle ice in the water passing through the turbines, which adheres to the metal parts, clogs up the turbine runner and water passageways and not infrequently causes a shut-down of the unit until the accumulation is removed.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a device-in combination with a hydraulic turbine which will prevent the adherence of ice to the metal parts thereof which are submerged in water during the operation of the turbine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which will cause an increase in the temperature of such parts sufficient to prevent clogging thereof due to the adherence of ice to such arts, and which will operate efiiciently un er water when the turbine is in use.

A further object is to provide such a device that will'induce electric currents in the metal parts of a hydraulic turbine,the heattion of ice on such parts.

Still further objects will appear from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which iling effect of which will prevent the formalustrate a preferred embodiment of the in- 1923. Serial in. 637,769.

, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a hydraulic turbine, showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention. I

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in F g. 1, with part of the top cover plate removed.

Referring more particularly to said drawings, Fig. 1 shows a common form of h draulic turbine, consisting essentiallyof t e hub 1 and crown 2 of the turbine wheel, said hub and crown being formed in one piece and being keyed or otherwise suitably secured to the shaft 3. 4

Secured to said hub and 'crown, and ex- ,tending downwardly therefrom are the buckets 4, which receive the water inward and discharge it downward, outward and inward, with the general purpose of distributing it over the cross. section of the turbut it is to be understood that the invention may be as well applied to other forms of hydraulic turbines, and with equally good'results.

Referring now to the ice preventing means which forms more particularly the subject of the present invention, the same comprises, in combination with metal parts operating under water, for example the parts of a turbine, an insulated coil 6, and, if desired, the auxiliary coils 7 affected by the water passing through the turbine, and is shown conveniently-disposed immediately beneath and secured to the stationary top cover plate 8, concentric therewith and having a diameter slightly lar r than the crown 2 of the turbine wheel, an said crown may, if desired, fit within The coil 6 is insulated toavoid itsbeing jacent metal parts of the turbines.

said coil as shown in Fig. 1. Said coil is, of course, arranged so it will not interfere with the maximum opening ofthe wicket gates 5.

The terminals9, 10 of said coil 6 lead to any convenient source of electric power, which supplies to said coil an alternating current of electricity.

In order to increase the heating effect, auxiliary insulated coils 7 may be provided, as shown, surrounding the spacing and supporting rods 11 for a part or the whole of their length, but shown as being arranged at the top part of each of said rods, immediately beneath the top plate 8 of the turbine.

Through each of these auxiliary coils 7 passes an alternating current, delivered to said coils through theirrespective terminals 12 and 13 from any convenient source, not shown, as the source from which the current is derived forms no part of the present invention.

The operation of the device is as follows: The alternating current fiowin through the main coil 6 or auxiliary coils I, or both,

, induces an electromotive force in the adjacent parts of the turbine, said parts being of metal and acting as a conductor for said induced electromotive force. Owing to the continuous change in the magnetic field produced by said alternating current, the induced current continues to flow in the ad- As is well known, such induced or eddy currents are true electric currents, and produce the usual heating and magnetic effects. The heating effect thus produced is sufficient to raise the temperature of the metal parts of the turbine enough to prevent the formation thereon and adherence thereto of any ice particles that may exist or form in the water passing through the turbine, and all necessity of shutting down the unit because of clogging up the metal parts due to ice is thereby eliminated.

In order that the larger parts of the turbine may not be too greatly affected and consume too large aportion of the energy applied, they may be sectionalized and the sections sufliciently insulated "to prevent the circulation therein of induced or eddy currents. For example, the top plate 8 may, as shown in Fig. 2, be divided into halves along the line ac-g It will thus be seen that a device has been provided which will supply a sufiicient amount of heat to those parts of a hydraulic turbine which operate in water to prevent the formation of ice on such parts and the adherence of ice to said parts; that not only the turbine wheel and the parts adjacent thereto, but also the wicket gates and the parts adjacent said gates, are supplied with heat; that the heat is supplied to all of said parts by insulated coils not aifected by the water in which they are submerged; and that by sectionalizing and insulating the parts of the turbine where no heat is required, the loss of energy that wouldotherwise be used in setting up induced currents in such parts is greatly minimized.

What is claimed is 1. In a hydraulic turbine, means for preventing the formation and adherence of ice particlesito the metal parts of said turbine, comprising a conductor of electricity arranged in proximity to said metal parts, and having an alternating current flowing therethrough, whereby induced currents flow in said metal parts and increase their temperature.

2. In combination, a hydraulic turbine, and means for preventing the formation and adherence of ice to the metal parts thereof operating under water, said means comprising a current conducting coil arranged in proximity to said metal parts and having an alternating current of electricity flowing therethrough, whereby induced currents are set up in said metal parts and increase their temperature.

3. In. combination, a hydraulic turbine and means for preventing the formation of ice particles on the parts of said turbine operating under water and the adherence of such ice particles to said parts, said means comprising an insulated current conducting coil arranged in proximity to the metal parts of said turbine operating under water, and submerged with said parts during operation of said turbine, said coil carrying an alternating current of electricity, whereby in- I each carrying an alternating electric current V and arranged in proximity to said wicket gates, said current carrying conductors setting up induced currents in the parts of said turbine in proximity thereto, whereby said parts are heated.

In testimony whereof I affix my si nature.

RALPH S. H ATT. 

